Deer flies

Deer flies can transmit a disease called tularemia, or rabbit fever, to humans.

Horseflies

Horseflies are large. They may have green heads or be completely black. They usually live near water or other warm, wet locations.

Their bites do not transmit diseases but can be painful due to how they bite the skin.

Sand flies

These tiny, worm-like flies are small and usually brown to gray. Although most do not transmit disease, there is a subset of sand flies in Texas that can transmit a severe condition called cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Stable flies

Stable flies are small and gray. They have several stripes on their bodies. They usually appear in the late summer to fall, and they typically bite in the morning or late afternoon.

Stable flies tend to bite people’s ankles. Doctors do not think they can transmit diseases.

Symptoms

A fly bite can cause swelling, itching, and redness.

The size of the bite does not always matter when it comes to telling what fly bit a person. A very small fly can cause a very large, irritated bite.

A person can usually tell if a fly has bitten them if the following symptoms occur:

swelling

itching

redness

a small but visible hole in the middle of a bite-like bump

Sometimes, the symptoms may depend on the type of fly. For example, doctors know that black fly bites can cause lymph node swelling.

Some people may have an allergic response to a fly’s bite. Examples of allergic reaction symptoms include feeling dizzy and weak. A person may start to develop trouble breathing or swelling in different body areas.

Flies commonly make multiple bites in the same areas of the body.

Diagnosis

A doctor can examine a bite or areas of biting.

They may ask where the person has recently been, such as around rivers, lakes, or wetlands. They will consider the bite’s appearance and its location on the body.

A doctor may be able to determine the type of fly from where the person was at the time they received the bite, and where the bites are on their body.

Unless a person is having very severe symptoms, a doctor will not usually need to perform further testing to determine the bite type.

Treatments and home remedies

If a person receives a fly bite, they can try the following steps to relieve any symptoms:

Clean the area with water or soap and water.

Place a cool compress or cloth covered ice pack over the bite to reduce swelling and minimize irritation and pain.

Take an over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, to reduce discomfort.

Apply a topical corticosteroid, such as OTC hydrocortisone 1%.

If a person experiences an allergic reaction to a bite, such as wheezing or hives, they should seek emergency medical attention.

If a person experiences symptoms of an infection after a fly bite — such as fever, nausea, headaches, or swollen lymph nodes — they should see their doctor. This is because they may have tularemia as a result of the bite.

Prevention

A hat with protective netting can help keep flies away from a person’s head.

When possible, a person should avoid spending time in areas where biting flies are common. Examples include marshlands, forests, shady areas, or locations that have very dense plant life.

Keeping the yard neat and well trimmed can also help minimize the amount of flies in the area.

In addition to these preventive steps, a person can also:

Cover their skin by wearing a long sleeved shirt, pants, and a hat. Ideally, these would be light colored, as dark colored clothing may attract flies.

Wear insect repellants, such as those that contain DEET or picaridin. However, these are not always effective against all biting fly varieties.

Wear a hat with protective netting, such as a beekeeper’s bonnet, when they know they will be in an area that has a lot of flies. This can help keep flies away from the person’s head, where they often like to bite.

Avoiding the outdoors at times of day when flies tend to bite, such as the late afternoon, can also help.

Summary

Fly bites can range from a nuisance to a severe occurrence.

If a person has an infected-looking bite or numerous bites on their body, they should seek medical attention.

Otherwise, at-home treatments to reduce inflammation and irritation can usually help relieve most symptoms.